Book & Toy Donation Packs Given To Syrian Refugees

Books and toys have been gifted to Syrian refugee children living in Scotland to help restore "normality in life''.

Children's minister Aileen Campbell handed over the first 40 of up to 1,000 donation packs to families in Dundee.

The packs contain books from the Scottish Book Trust and toys from the Scottish Government's Play Talk Read campaign.

More than 400 refugees are living in Scotland under the Syrian Resettlement Programme, which was introduced in 2015.

During a visit to Dens Road Primary School in Dundee, Ms Campbell said: ``Many of the children who have come to Scotland under the Syrian resettlement programme have experienced long periods of time with no education, no opportunities to play and no normality in their lives.

"Reading with a child can be one of the most rewarding and beneficial things a parent can do.

"It is vital that we support these families in restoring their lives and ensuring parents have a good bond with their children plays a critical part in helping to do this.''

Catriona Wallace, head of early years at the Scottish Book Trust, said: "We want to encourage and inspire a love of books and reading in every child in Scotland.

"We hope that the books we are giving to refugee families will bring joy and inspire happy times spent reading together.''